Milford Sound

Milford Sound is a breathtaking fjord on New Zealand’s South Island, and the most visited destination in the country. The fjord runs inland more than nine miles from the Tasman Sea and features sheer cliffs rising up out of the water more than 4,000 feet in some places. Today, Milford Sound is the only fjord in New Zealand that can be accessed by road, and it has more than a million visitors each year.

Milford Sound was overlooked by early European explorers because of its narrow entry and dismissed by many, including James Cook, as not worthy of entry or too dangerous to navigate. It was finally explored and named in 1812, but because of its remote location, remained largely unknown until the 20th Century.

Traveling to Milford Sound

International travelers fly into the Queenstown Airport, from which you can fly into Te Anau and onto Milford Sound. A flight from Te Anau to the small airport near the fjord is one of the most beautiful and spectacular flights you’ll likely ever take.

If a flight to Milford Sound isn’t in your budget, you can easily rent a car or take a bus from either Queenstown or Te Anau. Plan on 4 to 6 hours to drive from Queenstown, or 7 hours to take the bus. Once you arrive in Te Anau, the scenery becomes unbelievably spectacular, and although the route takes about two hours to drive, give yourself at least 4 so you have time to take in the incredible views.

Once you reach Milford Sound, you will want to get onto the water to really enjoy your surroundings, so take advantage of a day or overnight cruises. You can also embark on a day-long kayak tour that will allow you to leave the crowds behind and explore some of the lesser-known areas.

The Milford Discovery Centre and Underwater Observatory allows you to get up-close and personal with some unusual underwater creatures, including rare black coral and the New Zealand Glow Worm, whose bioluminescence makes it glow in the dark.

Whether visiting Milford Sound for the day or a week, the extraordinary beauty of the fjord and the surrounding mountains will not disappoint.